Clutch mechanism



July 31, 1923.

2 Sheets-Sheet l 11h .n 111/1/111//1/1/1.. .1 111/11//1/1//1/1: LVIII/1111.111 nnull un..."Vw

G. SLIDER CLUTCH MECHANISM Filed Nov. 15

July 31, 1923.

G. SLIDER CLUTCH MECHANISM Filed Nov. 16, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 31, 1923.

GEORGE SLIDER, OF BAL'I'IHIOBE, MARYLAND.

CLUTCH MECHANISIYI.

Application led November 16, 1921. Serial No. 515,496.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE SLIDER, a citizen of the United' States, residing` at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clutch Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a. full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable Others Skilled in the art to which it appertains to make' and use the same.

My invention relates to clutch mecha nism.

Among the objects ot my invention are To produce a .clutchy mechanism suitable for use in washing machines for controlling the application of power tol the clothes container thereof. i

While this is the primarynbjeet of my invention-,it iscupable of many applications to other lvtypes o'f rneclsiineryv and willbe useful wherever it is desired-to start and stop a rotating member, particularly when `it is desired to stop the rotating member in detiynite positions.

A further object of my invention isto con struct the clement of the clutch mechanism which drives the clothes container so that the latter may be readily removed from connoction with seid-element.

A further object ofV my invention is to provide an indexing `mechanism combined with the clutch mechanisms() that; the clothes container of the Washing machine `Will always be stopped in denite? positions, as for instance, `with the doors-therein located so that the operator may haveV readly access to the interior of the container.

A further object of my invention is to pro vide an indexing mechanism combined with the clutch mechanism and the separable connection between the element of the clutch that drives the clothes container and the hit ter so that said element will always be stopped in such position that the separable connection can be disengaged.

These and other objects of my invention will become apparent in the following speciu fication. reference being hed to the accompanying drawings, and the means b v which said objects are effectuated will be definitcl.` pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure l is a side view parti in Section f.;

showing a portion of the su s container of e washing machine with my improved clutch mechanism secured thereto.

Fig. 2 is a section along the line 2--2 in Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 3 is a. section along the line 3 3 in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

' Fig. 4 is an enlarged view similar to. Fig. 3 and showing but a portion'of the parts illust-rated i'n Fig. 3.

Fig'. 5 is a. view similni` to Fig. 4, but showing the Ah'amdle 33 in Ythe position in which the power is cut olf from the Vgeen' 24 and the index pin 39 inl engagement With one of the holes in the coller 23.

Fig. 6 shows the relation of th to the shaft of the clutch handile.

Fig. 7 is a section along;r the line '7V-f7 in Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the erfrovrs.

Fig. 8 is a view of the shifting shaft 32 and index pin 39 when viewed in the diree tion of the arrow 8 in Fig. 6.

1n the drawings e index pin 10 represents a portion of the suds c-on- Y tiiiner of the washingr machine to which the angle irons 11`11 are secured. The clutch casing 12 is secured to the angle irons by bolts such as 13 and said casingY is provided with a cylindrical hole 14 which registers with o similar hole in the suds container l0.

A stnfiing box 15 fits snugly Within the hole 14 and the corresponding hole in the container 10. Bolts such us 16 Secure said stuihng box, container and casing together.

The gland 17 fits within o. hole in the stiif'ling box 15. Bolts such as 18 serve to press seid gland against the packing 19 which prevents egress of Huid around the shaft Z0 from the suds container 10 to the interior of the casingr 12.

The shaft 20 has a hearing Within the gland 17 and another hearing.,r Within the boss Q1 formed upon the interior of the casing 12.

The spiral ,gear 2Q and index collar 23 are secured upon the shaft 20 in ,any ,approved manner.

The .gear Q2 meshes with :i spiral gear l2,4 which is loose upon the shaft 25 and the latter is revolublv mounted in s hearing in he boss "2G formed on the easingI 12. The shaft is to he revolved by any source of poner, not Shown.

The gear 24 rests upon the upper face of the hess 26 and said reea-r is provided with '.1 pair of Clutch holes for the reception of the rlutch pins '2T-2T. The clutch pins 27 are serured within the clutch sleeve 28 and the latter is slidahiv mounted upon the shaft 25. The pins '27 ext-end through holes in th driving disc 29 which is Secured to the shaft in any approved manner. The sleeve *l* is provided with a groove for the reception of one end of the shifting pin 30, the other end of which is revolubly mounted in the. shifting lever 31. The lever 3l is secured upon the shifting shaft 32 which is reroluhlv mounted in a bearing provided in the easingu l2 and has secured upon its outer end the shifting handle 33. The end of the lever 3l is provided with notches 34 and 35 for the reception of-the point of the clutch detent 36; said detent is slidably mounted in the boss 37 provided on the casing 12 and is normally pressed towardv the right. (see Fig. 5). b v the spring 38.

The index pin 39 is slidably mounted in a hole provided in the'cover 40 of the easing 12 and the end of said pin is located to enter either of the index holes 41-41 in the collar 23 for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The pin 39 is provided with a notch 42 which engages with the end of the springr 43 and serves to hold the pin 39 in the raised position as shown in Figs. I, 3 and 4.

The shaft 20 is provided with a T end'44, preferably formed integrally therewith. Said T end is embraced by the sides of the slot, 45 tormed in the pintle 46 on one end of the clothes container 47. The pintle 4G is revolutily mounted in a U shaped hearing 48 secured hv holts'such as 4i) to the stuffing hor: l5. A U shaped nearing similar to 4.8 is to he fze'iured to the other side of the suds container and a suitable. pintle mounted on the other end of theclothes container 47 is to be reroluhlv mounted therein.

Tho operation of my improved Clutch merhanisin is :is followsz- The handle fl-l being in the position shown in Fie. 5 tho pins 27 will. he removed from the holo: in the gear 2l.: eonsequentlv` when the .sh-it 'f2.3 is revolved the gear 24 will not he moved.

lt is lo he noted that When the handle 33 is iu lln position .shown in Fig. .'i. the pin fw may orffupv the position .shown in Figs. V :1nd Q. in which position the piu 39 enters` Within one ofthe holes 4l inthe index Polla r 21K and prevents turning ofthe clothes container 17.

lt is also to he noted that when the piu 29 is in [he position shown in said figures. 'uv reason of its relation to the faro 5i! .wf thrslot rut in the shaft 327 the latter cannot he moved, the pins 27 cannot he shifted and power cannot he applied to the clothes con tainer 47.

When it is desired to revolve the clothes container 47, the operator pulls the Vindex pin 39 upwardly, thus removing its end from one of. the holes 4l in the collar 23. The pin 39 is to be raised until the end of the spring 43 engages with the notch 42 and Stops. further upward motion. When the pin 39 is moved to the iosition shown in Figf4, it is removed from the path of the face 50; consequently, the handle 33 can he moved from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. Ll. This movement of the handle 33 will move the Clutch Sleeve 28 from the position shown in Fig. 5

to the position shown in Fig. 4 and the pins i 27 Will he introduced within the holes in the gear 24, thus locking the latter in driving relation to the shaft 25; consequently, the gear 24 will drive the gear 22 and the clothes container will be revolved.

When it is desired to stop the Clothes eontainer, the operator moves, the handle 33 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in 5, thus reinovin;r the pins 27 from the ho es in the gear 24 and i' terminating the driving relations hetvreen the latter and the shaft 25. At the sar-ne time the operator pushes downwardly upon Vthe pin 39, thus bringing the same upon the cylindrical surface of the collar 23, and assoony as one ofthe holes 4l therein comes opposite said pin, said pin will enter into said hole and stop the motion of the clothes container. l

It is to be noted that the holes 4l are located so that the doors. (not shown). in the clothes container will be directed so that the operator may have access to the interior thereof.

It is to be noted by reference to Fig. 4 that When-the handle is in the position shown in Fig. 4 the face 50 is in the path of the pin 39 and, consequently, said pin cannot be brought into engagement with the holes in the collar 23. B v this means. l avoid anj,r

possibility of frarture of parts hv the introduction of said pins within ono of said holes while the clothes container is revolving.

Itis also to be noted that the point of the Clutrfh detent 36 engages with .either of the notrhes 34 or 25 and holds the handle 3ft in either the power applying? or tho oit' posi tion. respectively.

Thus it Will he seen that. l provide fi simple. cheap and eioieut rlulfh inw-honism for controlling the applif'ofiou of {"oiver to the clothes container of n wushno i'rnn-hine anfl for stopping said routaium in detinite positions.

While l have shown im niorovotl clutfli mechanism as applied o the clothes container of a washing nniehinr` it is to he understood that I do not desire to be limited to said application thereof. It may be applied in any position Where its functions may be found useful.

Hence, unless specifically claimed, I do not desire to he limited to its application in a Washing machine.

While I have shown one combination of elements for furnishing improved results, it is to he understood that many changes may he made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim i l. In a clutch mechanism, the combination vwith a shaft, a gear revolubly mounted thereon and a sleeve slidably mounted thereon, of means driven by said shaft and moved by said sleeve to engagement with said gear or to disengagement therefrom, a handle for moving said sleeve, a shaft driven by said gear, an index collar comprising an index hole mounted upon said last named shaft, an independently operated index pin movable into said hole to lock said last named shaft against rotation and means for preventing the introduction of said pin into said hole when said first named means is in engagement with said gear.

2. In a clutch mechanism, the combination with a shaft, a gear revolubly mounted thereon and a sleeve slidably mounted thereon, of means driven by said shaft and moved hy said sleeve to engagement With said gear or to disengagement therefrom, a handle for moving said sleeve, a shaft driven by said gear, an index collar comprising an index hole mo-unted upon said last named shaft, an independently operated index pin movable into said hole to lock said last named shaft against rotation and means for preventing the engagement of said first named means With said gear when said pin is in said hole.

3. In a. clutch mechanism, the combination With a shaft having a T end, driving mechanism, means for engaging said shaft with said driving mechanism and for disengaging it therefrom, an independently operated pin for engaging said shaft to lock it in definite positions, and means for preventing the engagement of said pin with said shaft when said shaft is engaged with said driving mechanism.

4. In a clutch mechanism, the combination with a shaft having a T end, driving mechanism, means for engaging said shaft with said drivin mechanism and for disengaging it therefrom, an independently operated pin for engaging said shaft to lock it in definite positlons, and means for preventing the engagment of said shaft with said driving mechanism when said pin is engaged with said shaft.

5. In a clutch mechanism, the combination with a U shaped bearing, a shaft having a T head extending into said bearing and a pintle revolubly mounted in said bearing, of faces in said pintle embracing the limbs of said T head, means for revolving said shaft and means for stop-ping said shaft with the limbs of said T head parallel to the sides of said U shaped bearing.

6. In a clutch mechanism, the combination with driven, driving and shifting shafts, a casing comprising bearings for said shafts, a fixed gear on said driven shaft and a loose gear on said driving shaft, means operated by said shifting shaft for engaging said loose gear with said driving shaft and a pin for engaging said driven shaft to stop same and for also engaging said shifting shaft to prevent movement of the same when said pin is in engagement with said driven shaft.

7. In a clutch mechanism, the combination with driven, driving and shifting shafts, a casing comprising bearings for said shafts, a fixed gear on said driven shaft and a. loose gear on said driving shaft, means operated by said shifting shaft for enfraging said loose gear with said driving shaft and a pin for engaging said driven shaft to stop same, said shifting shaft engaging said pin to prevent its movement when said loose gear is engaged with said driving shaft.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature.

GEORGE SLIDER. 

